2023 Sees the Video Game Industry in Transition

2023 Sees the Video Game Industry in Transition

So far 2023 has been a stagnant year for the video game industry.  DFC Intelligence forecasts that worldwide revenue for PC and console games will remain flat for the year at $74 billion.  However, from a strategic perspective the industry is undergoing a remarkable business model transition. As large publishers focus on live services there is growing potential for smaller publishers and developers. Living Games Redefine Launch Strategies Heading in.....
Microsoft Video Game Results Remain Disappointing

Microsoft Video Game Results Remain Disappointing

For its fourth fiscal quarter ending 6/30/2023, Microsoft reported gaming revenue was up 1% year-over-year.  Xbox content and services grew 5% while Xbox hardware declined 13%. Analysis Microsoft’s video game performance continues to significantly underperform the industry.  The poor sales for Xbox hardware is in stark contrast to record sales for Sony’s PlayStation 5. .....
Video Game Sales To Set Record in 2021

Video Game Sales To Set Record in 2021

The COVID-19 stay-at-home orders helped drive video game sales to record levels in 2020. However, even as the world starts to return to normal the video game market remains on fire. Sales in 2021 are expected to surpass 2020 as DFC Intelligence forecasts the core video game software market will grow by 10%. DFC divides video games into three major segments: PC, console and mobile. In the past year the console and PC segments have seen the most exciting growth. In 2020 PC and console ga.....
Can CD Projekt Recover from the Cyberpunk 2077 Disaster?

Can CD Projekt Recover from the Cyberpunk 2077 Disaster?

CD Projekt, based in Poland, is the developer and publisher of Cyberpunk 2077.  The company has been around for many years, but DFC Intelligence first became interested in them when they launched Good Old Games/GOG.com back in 2008. Good Old Games was designed as a digital distribution service for PC games along the lines of Steam.  The twist was they focused on older IP.  DFC did an analysis of the GOG and CD Projekt back .....
Microsoft Flight Simulator Highlights A Bold Microsoft Strategy

Microsoft Flight Simulator Highlights A Bold Microsoft Strategy

Much of the news about Microsoft’s plans for a new video game console system has come out this week.  What is clear is that Microsoft is focused on a service-based subscription model.  However, one of the best indications of where Microsoft is going may be Microsoft Flight Simulator which launched for PC in August. The Flight Simulator franchise has been around since 1982 when Microsoft was using it to promote IBM DOS-based PCs.  In 1996, the franchise moved to Windows.....
Microsoft Throws a Hail Mary with Xbox Series S

Microsoft Throws a Hail Mary with Xbox Series S

The rumors about a watered-down digital only version of the upcoming Microsoft Xbox Series X have been going on for quite some time. In the past few days the details about the system, originally known as Project Lockhart, started to catch fire. Finally, on Tuesday September 8, Microsoft officially announced the rumors were true and a new system the Xbox Series S would launch November 10, 2020. The Xbox Series S will launch at the bargain price of $299. However, the Xbox Series S featur.....
Video Game Industry Soars Under Stay-at-Home

Video Game Industry Soars Under Stay-at-Home

DFC Intelligence just released its latest report on the state of the video game industry. The good news is that sales of video games are soaring. Of course, one of the unfortunate causes of this increase is the devastating spread of COVID-19. In the past week major public video companies have reported earnings results that were better than expected. This included Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Zynga and Nintendo. These .....
Nintendo Sales Strong/ Stock Drops

Nintendo Sales Strong/ Stock Drops

Last week Nintendo announced its earnings for the nine months ending 12/31/2019.  As expected Nintendo sales were strong.  However, they were not strong enough to please investors who punished Nintendo stock. DFC Intelligence had forecasted a strong holiday season for the Nintendo Switch and it delivered.  For the second half of 2019, Switch hardware sales were up 31% over 2018.&nb.....